Ariella's POV
The days that followed the shooting lesson were confusing, to say the least. Something had changed between Francis and me that day in the training yard, and it was more than just our relationship as future Luna and Prime Minister. It was as if the moment his hand had steadied mine, something happened inside me, opening a door I wasn’t sure I wanted to walk through.
But I couldn’t deny what I was feeling. No matter how hard I tried to focus on my duties or studies, my thoughts drifted back to Francis. I would catch myself replaying how he had guided me, the warmth of his touch on my shoulder, the steadiness of his breath against my ear. Every time I closed my eyes, it was his face I saw, his voice I heard, and it left me with a mix of emotions I didn’t know how to handle.
